PARTED FOR TEN YEARS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 484, 28 June 1890, Page 5

PARTED FOR TEN YEARS.

A case possessing some very peculiar features was investigated the other day by the Fitzroy Bench, Melbourne, when Annie Howe suod her husband, Robert Lincoln Howe, for maintenance. Mrs Howe was represented by Mr Porter, and Mr Frank Stephen, sen., defended the accused. The history of the early days of married life of the unfortunate couple was distressing in the extreme. Married in England in 1874, the young couple came out to Auckland, and resided there for some time. He was unable to obtain employment, and he letb her, and went to Sydney. There he remained for some months, and ultimately sent his wife £5, which he specified was to pay her passage to Sydney. She was unable to go over, as she owed money to tradespeople. Ultimately the Ladies’ Benevolent Association paid for her and her two children’s passage to Sydney. She then joined him at Creesy’s Hotel, Parramatta, bub as he was nob doing well, she had to leave him. The defendant then joined the mounted police service in New South Wales and was sent to Wagga Wagga ; from there he was transferred to Tumbarrumba. In 1878 he was sent back to Wagga Wagga. It was at this period that he deserted his wife. Immediately after the removal he resigned, and led a vagrant life amongst hotels and ostlers. From 1880 he failed absolutely to contribute any support for his wife or three children. She saw nothing of him from that period till the beginning of the present year. During the period they were parted the accused sent several letters to his wife, in all of which he spoke in gushing terms of the affection she had shown him. During the long interval the pair had been parted Mrs Howe took a position with a Mr M’Kie, a rich old gentleman, who treated her very well, and not only gave her carte blanche in the conduct of his household, bub went so far as to give her his cheque book, which she controlled for him. In cross-examina-tion, Mrs Howe admitted that she lived with McKie as his wife. During last year she found out that her husband had come in for a legacy of £3OO a year, and she took steps now to force him to maintain her. Mr Stephen urged that as the woman had

admitted thab she was living in adultery with a rich old man, the Bench should not make an order against his client. Howe was willing to support his children, but the wife was not entitled to any sympathy. The Bench, presided over by Mr Cowie, J.P., made an order for £2 per week.